New Ulm weekly review., 1887-12-14

ury department. from private enterprise
or course it is not expected that Unnecessary
and extravaganza appropriations will be made
for the purpose of Avoiding the accumulation
of an excess OF revenue Such expenditure,
beside the denloralization of all Just con-
ceptions Of pubie duty which it entails,
sJimu.ates a habit of reckless improvidence
not in the least consistent with the mission Of
our people or the high and beneficent pur-
poses OF our government have deemed it
my duty to thus bring to the knowledge of
Hay countrynen, as well as TO tie attention
OF their represent tauives charged with the re-
eponsibiliGles of legislative relief, the gravity
OF our financial situation The failure of con-
gress heretofore to provide against the dan
gers which it was quite evident the very ma
Jure OF the difficulty must necessarily pro-
duce, caused a condition Of financial distress
and apprehension since your last adjourn
menf which taxed to the utmost oil the au-
tnorlty and expedients within executive con-,
troll; and these appear now TO be exhausted
II disaster results from the continued mac
stIon OF congress, the responsibility must rest
where it belongs 1hough the situation thus
far considered Is fraught with danger which
should be fully realized, and though 1t pre-
sents features OF wrong to the people as we'll
PERIL TO THE COUNTRY
It IS but a result growing out of q per-
fecJly palpable and apparent cause, con-
stanJiy reproducing the same alarming cir
cumsJances-a congested national treasury
and depleted monetary condition in the
business of the country. 1t need hardly be
stated that while the present situation de-
mands remedy, We can only be saved from
q like predicament In the future by the re-
moval of it's cause. Our scheme of taxation.
by means OF which this needless surplus Is
taken from the people and put into the pub
lie treasury, consists of tariff or duty levied
upon importatons from abroad and internal
revenue taxes levied upon the consumption
OF tobacco and spirituous and malt liquors
IL must be conceded that none OF the things
subjected 10 internal revenue taxation are,
strictly speaking. necessary. There appears
to be no just complaint Of this taxation by
the consumers Of these articles and there
seems to be nothing 80 we'll able to bear the
burden without hardship to any portion of
the people. But our present tariff laws, the
vicious ineqnitable, and illogical source of
unnecessary taxation, ought to be at once
revised and amended These laws, as their
primary aud plain effect raise the price to
consumers ct 81! art!c!es imported and sub
iect to duty, bv precisely the SUM paid for
such duties Thus the amount of the duty
measures the tax paid by those who purchase
f6f use these Imported articles Many OF
these things. however. arera;sed or manu-
factured in our country, and the duties now
levied upon foreign goods and products are
ures. because they render it possible for
those of our people who are manufacturers
10 make these taxed articles and sell them
for price equal TO that demanded for the
imported goods that have paid customs duty.
So it happens that while comparatively a few
use the imported articles, millions of our
people, who never use and never saw any OF
the imported products. purchase and use
things of the same kind made in this country
and pay therefor nearly or quite the same
imported articles Those who buy imports
pay the duty charged thereon into the pub
lie treasury, but the great majority of our
citizens who buy domestic articles of the
same cless pay a sum at least approximately
equal to this duty to the home manufact-
| urer. This reference 20 the operation OF our
| tariff laws is not made by way of instruc-
ton, but IN order that we may be constantly
reminded OF the manner in which they
IMPOSE A BURDEN
upon those who consume domestic products
as well as those who consume imported
articles, and thus create tax upon all our
people. 1t is not proposed to entirely re-
lieve the country of this taxation. It must
be extensively continued as the source of
i the governments income: and in a readiust-
ment Of our tariff the interests OF American
labor engaged In manufacture should be
Icarefully considered as well as the preserva-
tion of our manufacturers It may be called
i protection, or by any other name. but relief
i from the hardships and dangers OF our pres
4 ent tariff laws should be devised with espe-S
cial precaution against iuperiling the exist
ence OF 8Otr manufacturing interests But
d this existence should not mean q condition
4 which, without regard to the public welfare
or national exigency. must always insure
the rea izahon Of immense profits instead of
moderately profitable returns As the vol
ume and diversity sof our national activities
Il increase, new recruits are added to those
who desire continuation Of the advantages
\ which they conceive the preAene aystem ct
4 tariff taxation directly affords them. So
Il stubbornly have all efforts to reform the